Operation Manong celebrates 40th anniversary on March 25

Among the first UH Manoa programs to address diversity through advocacy and educational enrichment

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Friends of Operation Manong announce the 40th anniversary of the founding of Operation Manong (OM), established in 1971. The public is invited to attend the reunion celebration on Sunday, March 25, 2012, from 3-8 p.m. at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu. The anniversary celebration is an opportunity to reflect on best practices and to thank OM alumni, students and staff for their service and leadership.

One of the first University programs to address campus diversity and equal access to higher education in the early 1970s, OM was started by a coalition of University and community leaders—including Amefil Agbayani, Bienvenido Junasa, James Misajon, Ethel Ward, Anthony Marsella and Sheila Forman. OM developed extensive community outreach programs and services for public school and pre-college students to assist new immigrant public school students and to increase the number and success of Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders and other student groups who are under-represented at UH Mānoa.

OM has also prepared students for undergraduate work, assisted with the transfer of community college students to UH Mānoa, provided scholarships, and trained future teachers and community leaders. In 2000, OM became the Office of Multicultural Student Services (OMSS) to reflect a broader scope of cross-cultural and social justice activities.